Rock/Creek Chronicle's Announcements Archives

May 19, 2008

Media Alert: Rock/Creek and Vasque Present The Scenic City Trail Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, benefiting The Boonies

Media Alert
May 20, 2008

Contact:
Jamie Sanders, Race Director
423.505.0310 (mobile)
stumpjump50k@rockcreek.com

Mark McKnight, Marketing Director, Rock/Creek
423.643.1528 (office)
423.596.1573 (mobile)
mark@rockcreek.com

Rock/Creek and Vasque Present The Scenic City Trail Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, benefiting The Boonies

What: Scenic City Trail Marathon & 1/2 Marathon presented by Rock/Creek & Vasque, benefiting The Boonies
Where: TVA Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage Facility
When: Saturday, May 24, 2008, 8:00 a.m race start
Who: Rock/Creek, Vasque Footwear, The Boonies (Wilderness Trail Running Association)

Rock/Creek and Vasque proudly present the second annual Scenic City Trail Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, taking place at TVA's Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage Facility on the trails developed by SORBA-Chattanooga. Both of these trail runs begin at 8:00 a.m. Race-day registration and check-in will open at 6:45 a.m. The race begins and ends at the Laurel Point Parking Lot.

The Scenic City Trail Marathon will set the bench for a state record in trail running. The trails at Raccoon will be fast and forgiving, making for a great leisurely race for new trail runners or a full-on speed fest for those in the hunt for the first state record for a trail race.

Now part of the Vasque North American Trail Tour, this year's Scenic City Trail Marathon & 1/2 Marathon promises to be an incredible experience. Sponsored by Rock/Creek, Vasque, Mountain Hardwear, and SmartWool. Participants will receive a technical Wicked Tee from Mountain Hardwear. Prizes and raffles will be provided as well.

Proceeds from the race benefit the trail building efforts of the Wilderness Trail Running Association (a.k.a. "The Boonies"). Specifically, the proceeds from this race will help build the trail for the Lookout Mountain 100k, taking place on December 20, 2008 along with a 10k.

For more information visit:
http://www.rockcreek.com/trailmarathon/

Photo Opportunities:
Well over 100 trail runners from around the United States will be competing on a beautiful course with sweeping views of the TN River Gorge and the Raccoon Mountain Reservoir.

Interview Opportunities:
Jamie Sanders, Race Director
Randy Whorton, President, The Boonies

Map to TVA's Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage Facility (via Google Maps):
http://tinyurl.com/6dh9tu
When you get to the TVA Road, you follow it up to the gates to the facility. From there you will see signs directing you to Laurel Point.

About Rock/Creek:

Rock/Creek, member of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, is an independent specialty outdoor retailer with over two decades of experience in the Southeast. Along with its online shops, RockCreek.com and ClimbingGear.com, Rock/Creek provides quality outdoor clothing and gear for a host of activities including kayaking, rock climbing, camping, hiking, trail running, and adventure racing. Rock/Creek is committed to making a positive impact on the environment. For this reason, it uses outdoor retail as a platform to encourage outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship and to improve public access to the backcountry. Rock/Creek supports worthy nonprofits such as the Southeastern Climbers' Coalition and the Wilderness Trail Running Association.

Posted by Mark McKnight at 04:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 30, 2008

Rock/Creek's New Brand Identity Receives First Place in AIGA Design Competition

Memphis, TN- April 2008: Rock/Creek and Widgets & Stone announce victory at the 2008 American Institute of Graphic Arts TEN Show.

Coming out on top with a Gold Medal, Widgets & Stone won the Brand Identity category with Rock/Creek. Under Design Director Paul Rustand, designers Matt Greenwell, Brad Dicharry, and Joseph Shipp of Widgets & Stone came up with the current “Rock/Creek” brand that has proven to be successful. Caleb Ludwick served as Strategist/Writer on the project, Mark McKnight contributed photography, and Steve West contributed to production.

The American Institute of Graphic Arts, or AIGA, is the nationally-recognized professional association for design. AIGA describes itself as "the place design professionals turn to first to exchange ideas and information, participate in critical analysis and research and advance education and ethical practice. AIGA sets the national agenda for the role of design in its economic, social, political, cultural and creative contexts."

AIGA Tennessee for the past three years has held a competition for all AIGA members in the state called the TEN Show. This friendly competition allows designers and creators to come together to exchange ideas and show off their work. All entries in the TEN Show must follow strict guidelines including: describing the client, the challenge presented to them, the solution to the challenge, and the results of the project, all in 500 words or less.

Among the many AIGA members, Widgets & Stone, a Chattanoooga-based design firm, entered their branding work for Rock/Creek as one of this year’s projects. The two companies have been working diligently for over two years to launch a comprehensive re-branding campaign that has positioned Rock/Creek's brick-and-mortar stores as well as its e-commerce Web site for future growth within the outdoor retail industry. The challenge presented to Widgets & Stone was to develop a brand that conveys Rock/Creek's status as a company with over 20 years of brick and mortar experience, a company that has inspired customers to take adventures both on and off the trail. Rock/Creek focuses on getting its customers into the outdoors safely and comfortably. Widgets & Stone emphasized Rock/Creek not only as a retail company that sells apparel and equipment, but also as a company that focuses on the human experiences that surround these products.

Mark McKnight, Marketing Director at Rock/Creek, praises the project: “All of the feedback we’ve had on the identity has been positive. The reaction within our vendor community has been the biggest source of validation for me personally— we have been told by several vendors that there simply are no other specialty retailers doing anything like this.”

Paul Rustand expresses his satisfaction with the project as well: “For Widgets & Stone the Rock/Creek brand development project was wonderful on many levels. It was an honor and a privilege to be able to work with the great individuals who lead such an established and successful local business. The scope of the project —- to redesign everything from the logo to the signage to the advertising to the packaging -— is what every design studio seeks. In addition to their forward-thinking approach to the brand identity, Rock/Creek had an impeccable grasp of their target demographics, which proved invaluable to the design process. And last -— but certainly not least -— the mutual respect that we experienced throughout the course of the project between client and designer was fantastic.”

For more about AIGA's TEN Show, visit http://tenshow.org/

Photos of the Rock/Creek entry are available courtesy the Memphis AIGA chapter:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13545114@N06/2378081267/in/set-72157604333176314/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13545114@N06/2378919490/in/set-72157604333176314/

About Rock/Creek:

For more information about Rock/Creek, visit http://rockcreek.com/

About Widgets & Stone:

Widgets & Stone is committed to using design to serve the needs of clients - while exploring the many ways the design process can inspire individuals and enlighten communities. As a full service studio, Widgets & Stone sees a project from conception to production. For over 12 years the firm has created a wide variety of design work: logos/trademarks, brand development, company materials, web sites, print promotions, books and packaging.

For more information about Widgets & Stone visit http://widgetsandstone.com/

###

Posted by Mark McKnight at 01:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 05, 2008

Kathy Johns Joins Race Team

Kathy Johns

Occupation: Medical Assistant

Favorite trail nourishment: Apple Cinnamon Hammer Gel

Favorite Run: Prentice Cooper Wilderness Area is absolutely unbeatable! The single-track trail has a variety of terrain and breathtaking views that make it, in my opinion, the epitome of trail running at its best. It is a personal favorite no matter how many times I do it; a familiar and beautiful playground of forest, rock, and creek crossings.

What I Like Most about Running: Pushing myself past any limit I thought possible, mentally and physically. Moments of both pure exhilaration and dire pain have their place in endurance trail running and I love to see what the human body is capable of achieving when pushed to its seemingly maximum threshold. Not to mention, you get to explore vast areas of beautiful wilderness that most people never have the pleasure of experiencing.

Tips for other Runners: "Figure out what motivates you. Use it to your advantage. For me, working towards events alleviates the monotony of daily training. The love of a long Saturday morning run keeps me motivated to never lose my base mileage. Running is mostly mental. At any point in time, your mind and emotions can work for or against you. Get familiar with your mental patterns and learn how to harness them as a tool to keep yourself in the game."

Significant Races and Other Achievements:
Rock/Creek River Gorge Race
Mountain Mist 50K
NOC/Subaru 21 mile Endurance Run
Rock/Creek StumpJump 50K
Nashville Country Music Marathon, Half Marathon, and other various road races.
Training runs that were often harder than any event!

Goals for ’08:
New personal bests. More events. Getting stronger, faster, and wiser. Enjoying the ability to just get out there!

Subscribe to our blog feed for updates on the Rock/Creek Race Team,
new articles, events and races, as well as notification of sales.

Posted by Mark McKnight at 12:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 17, 2008

John Anderson Joins Rock/Creek Race Team

We'd like to welcome our latest Rock/Creek Race team member, John Anderson. John is an old friend of Rock/Creek and we're happy to have him on the team. Here's his bio:

John Anderson Occupation: Medical Student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine

Why I run: I grew up tramping around the mountains of Tennessee, and the enthusiasm and direction finding skills of my running friends and brother resulted in some unintentional ultras.

"There is a root communication shared in miles spent in the woods and a seemingly paradoxical camaraderie among runners that comes from individual suffering and elation. I find ultraraces to be a family affair."

Conversations, jokes, and even silent support abound in every race I've run (although the jokes seem to get funnier around mile 70, which is good for me because the only people that seem to laugh at my jokes are ultrarunners and very small children). Even the periods of solitary miles allow time to connect with the inner being through the pain of the body. Essentially, running is simple, running is primal and running is fun.

Favorite Runs: Grand Lake Loop Rocky Mtn National Park--a 36ish mile loop up and over the Continental Divide, dropping into Grand Lake for a swim at halfway. Also, running in Prentice-Cooper in the fall.

Tips: Ultras are long. You will have a rough stretch, and your success is dependent on how you react because it will eventually pass. You have to train how you race--eat the same foods, run in the dark, run alone, run with a pacer, run through creeks, etc. Embrace the places where both your body and mind go because they truly are unique and indescribable.

Races/Accomplishments:
6th overall 2007 Wasatch Front 100 23:15
2nd overall 2007 Spring Desert Ultra 50 7:47
2nd overall 2007 Old Pueblo 50 7:29
4th overall 2007 Ashland Mountain Climb
Farthest Projectile Vomiting--2007 Hardrock 100
plus lots of other high finishes in the last three years in different races (Zane Grey, Leadville, StumpJump, etc.)

More about the Rock/Creek Race Team >
Sign up for the Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race in March >
Read about our epic Rock/Creek StumpJump 50K race coming up in October >

Posted by Mark McKnight at 04:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Cathi Cannon Joins Rock/Creek Race Team

We'd like to welcome Cathi Cannon, a freelance Graphic Designer here in Chattanooga, TN, to the Rock/Creek Race Team. She's been a friend and training partner for a while now, and has raced several Rock/Creek races in the past. Here's her bio:

Favorite Run or Race: Cumberland Trail. With over 300 miles to explore, you can't get bored! Perhaps my favorite segment is along the North Chick segment, which we call the Blue Hole Run - approx 5 miles to a pristine swimming hole that is tucked away from all the day trippers. It is the perfect place to relax in the sun and swim with the fish.

What I like most about running:Being able to immerse myself in wilderness... even if it is just 15 minutes from downtown! The solitude and peacefulness wipes away any stress from the work week.

Tips for other runners: When new runners hear about my adventures, they think it is entirely out of reach. Hey - we all start somewhere! When I signed up for my first marathon, I could barely get through 4 miles. Sure it takes a lot of time to work up to 2-day races, but nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it. Just understand that it takes time, commitment and patience to reach your goals. Believe in yourself and go for it!

Races/Significant Accomplishments:
Rock/Creek River Gorge Race
Stump Jump 50K Trail Run
Mtn. Mist 50K
Black Mountain Marathon
Shut-In Ridge Trail Run
Hogpen Hillclimb 17k
Overmountain Extreme Adventure Race (30hr)
Checkpoint Zero Adventure Race (30 hr)
Smoky Mountain Adventure Race (40hr)
North Georgia Adventure Race (30 hr)
+ countless shorter adv races, mtn & road bike races

Coming up in 2008:
Mt. Mitchell Challenge - 40 miler
River Gorge 10miler, Scenic City Marathon, StumpJump 50k
CPZ, OME, NGAR Adv Races
Ultra O-Gaine (a 12hr orienteering race)
* race reports, training stories, and pictures can be found on www.bebackonmonday.com

More about the Rock/Creek Race Team >
Sign up for the Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race in March >
Read about our epic Rock/Creek StumpJump 50K race coming up in October >

Posted by Mark McKnight at 11:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 11, 2008

Rock/Creek Builds Expanded Web Presence With Coptix

Chattanooga, TN- Rock/Creek has launched a redesigned e-commerce web site, developed by Chattanooga's leading integrated design company, Coptix, Inc. The company has also named Coptix as its Interactive Agency of Record.

As a retailer of outdoor equipment and apparel, Rock/Creek sees the internet as an opportunity for robust, effective sales. The company has a long history of participation in the active life of Chattanooga and the larger outdoor community. Rock/Creek organizes grassroots community improvements, educates customers on safety and how to get the most out of their backcountry experience, and promotes environmentally responsible recreation and stewardship of our environment.

"We're delighted to roll out this latest version of our website," said Rock/Creek Marketing Director Mark McKnight. "The new look and the functionality Coptix has developed builds on our 20-year brick and mortar heritage and responds to what we've learned from our online customers over the years."

Continue reading "Rock/Creek Builds Expanded Web Presence With Coptix"

Posted by Mark McKnight at 03:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 11, 2007

$4000 Raised at Rock/Creek StumpJump

400 Ultrarunners attend 7th Annual Rock/Creek StumpJump 50K, contend with difficult course, record heat, and raise $4000 for the Cumberland Trail Conference.

Contact:
Mark McKnight
423.266.8200 ext. 1113
mark@rockcreek.com

Chattanooga, TN, October 10, 2007 -- Four hundred trail running enthusiasts weathered unseasonably hot and humid conditions at Saturday's Rock/Creek StumpJump 50K. The 7th annual race sold out months in advance. "Despite the heat, this was probably the best StumpJump we've put on so far," said Race Director Jamie Sanders; "We were happy that it sold out early and that we were able to expand this year's race to accommodate increased demand." The heat did take it's toll, with over 20 runners pulling out of the race. It's doubtful that anyone set a personal record this year. Matt Karzen, veteran ultrarunner and Rock/Creek Race Team member, summed it up well: "StumpJump 2007 was the toughest 50K I've run. The topography makes it a challenge, but the unseasonably warm temps this year made wise pacing and diligent hydration key. I didn't do either very well, and boy did I pay for it. Luckily the beauty of the course, including ridgetop views of the Tennessee river, martian-like rock formations and shadowy drainages out of Narnia, kept me smiling. I had a great time and I'll be back for sure."

Continue reading "$4000 Raised at Rock/Creek StumpJump"

Posted by Mark McKnight at 11:02 AM | TrackBack

September 06, 2007

Bikes in Tunnel! Now You Can Bike to Work.

bike-in-tunnel The new "Bikes in Tunnel" warning lights were officially turned on this morning, just about an hour ago, by Chattanooga's traffic engineers. These signs have been in the works for a long time, and it's nice to see them operational. This is another important step in making Chattanooga a bicycle-friendly city. The lights are posted outside the Missionary Ridge and Stringer's Ridge Tunnels, two places that have been rather dangerous for cyclists because of the low visibility inside the tunnels and the often excessive speed of motorists through these narrow passages. Thanks to Philip Pugliese, the city's bicycle coordinator, along with all the folks at Outdoor Chattanooga and the City for making this happen.

Now there's no excuse not to bike to work this Friday. Here's the info:

Ride Your Bike & Join Us for Free Breakfast at our new location on the Walnut Street Square - South End of the Walnut Street Bridge. 7:00-8:30 am!

Choose your own route using our website map or ride with us meeting at:

* Tennessee Riverpark - Fishing Pier Entrance (7:00 AM)
* The Incline Railway - Rear Parking Lot (7:00 AM)
* Red Bank - A group may start forming at the Duck Pond (7:00 AM)
* Signal Mountain / Mountain Creek Road - Anyone interested in meeting at base of mountain?

Contact: Philip Pugliese, ppugliese@outdoorchattanooga.com

Read the full press release after the break...

Read more entries on biking in Chattanooga:

Wanna Bike to Work Tomorrow?

Bike to Riverbend

Ready for the Tour de Georgia? We Are.

Pick up a Rock/Creek Specialized Water Bottle >

... or a Rock/Creek Hincapie Jersey >

Continue reading "Bikes in Tunnel! Now You Can Bike to Work."

Posted by Mark McKnight at 10:24 AM | TrackBack

January 18, 2007

Grassroots- Piton Post #3

A bit late, but in case you haven't seen the third in the series of Piton posts about the new Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, here it is.

All Grassroots members are all involved in environmental causes individually but as a group we have been able to join the Conservation Alliance to help distribute grants of significantly larger amounts of money, up to $70K, to conservation groups throughout North America. [Read full article]

Posted by Mark McKnight at 04:31 PM | TrackBack

January 04, 2007

Grassroots Post #2 on the Piton

Turns out yesterday's post on the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance was prescient. The Piton posted the second interview with Dave Matz today. Check it out here:

LINK

One of the most interesting points for me has to do with the impact of specialty retailers, who keep more money in the local economy and have more of a vested interest in the quality of their local environment:

Here is a study that underscores the point we are trying to get across nationally. In 2003 the Civic Economics (a group of economists) did a study in Austin, Texas, comparing two bookstores. One of the stores was a large chain store, the other, an independent, local store.
The study found that every $100 spent at the national store circulated $13 in the Austin economy. The same $100 spent at the local store circulated $45, roughly three times as much, in the Austin economy. (Economic Impact Analysis: A Case Study, Civic Economics, Austin, TX 2002, free for download at www.civiceconomics.com ).

Read the full article on thePiton.com

Posted by Mark McKnight at 11:11 AM | TrackBack

January 03, 2007

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance

RockCreek has been a part of the group formerly known as ROI for many years. The group has recently changed to a more consumer-friendly name (that also happens to sound a lot less like one of our biggest competitors): "The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance." With the name change comes a new focus. Check out this Piton post, where the group's Executive Director, Dave Matz, talks a bit more about the our new direction. There's another interview coming soon, so I'll post that when I see it come out.

LINK: http://www.thepiton.com/2006/12/post_1_on_the_g.html

We want to highlight our members as the local specialty outdoor store with the beta you need. We have the best and most innovative products, the best local knowledge for whatever activity you are pursuing, the knowledge and commitment to preserve our local recreational resources. We support our communities with our events whether they are races, fun participation events, speakers, clinics or charity fund raisers. All these things make us different from big box stores and Grassroots wants to celebrate these specialty stores.

-Mark

Posted by Mark McKnight at 11:08 AM | TrackBack

October 10, 2006

Video of the new Rock/Creek Building

Hey this is really cool... 2 videos from the architect of the new Rock/Creek development.

Thanks go to the architects, River Street Architecture, LLC, for these nifty flyby videos.

Posted by Mark McKnight at 05:38 PM | TrackBack

Press Clipping from new North Shore Rock/Creek development

I've shared a bit about the new Rock/Creek development going in on the North Shore on this blog before.

We just had a great article on the front page of the Business section of today's Chattanooga Times-Free Press. Of course they completely missed the environmental story, which I think is interesting. Perhaps it wasn't mentioned at the groundbreaking, but I'm not sure. The original plans called for a whole suite of environmentally sensitive design elements. I'll post any details I get as they come in.

Click the image below to see the full size article.

Posted by Mark McKnight at 01:52 PM | TrackBack

October 02, 2006

RockCreek.com and Chaco Raise Funds for Access with Custom Sandals

Chaco, Rock Creek Outfitters, and the Triple Crown Bouldering Series team up to help local climbers gain permanent access to one of the premier bouldering areas in the Southeast. Proceeds from custom sandal sales aid in Boat Rock land purchase.

Chattanooga, TN (PRWEB) October 2, 2006 -- Long recognized as major contributors to environmental and outdoor causes, Chaco and Rock Creek Outfitters announce today that they will offer custom Chaco Performance Sandals for purchase during the 2006 Triple Crown Bouldering Series in effort to raise funds to help secure access to one of the prime bouldering areas in the Southeast. A portion of the custom sandal proceeds will be donated to the Southeastern Climbers’ Coalition to help gain permanent access to and ownership of Boat Rock, a woodland area inside the metro of Atlanta with more than a half mile of unique egg shaped granite boulders.

Boat Rock has long been threatened by development, but with continued effort from the SCC and local citizens, the area is now a community park and green space. Currently, $12,000 remains to be paid on the mortgage, and many are working to make the final payments against the note.

In 2005, a similar effort from Chaco, Rock Creek and The Triple Crown raised over $4,000 toward the purchase of Laurel Knob, a 1,200 ft. granite dome in Cashiers Valley located in the Highlands of North Carolina. Once threatened by development, Laurel Knob, renowned as the tallest crag east of the Mississippi River, is now owned by the Carolina Climbers’ Coalition and is open to hiking and rock climbing.

Chaco and Rock Creek Outfitters have quietly gone about the business of gaining and maintaining access to outdoor recreation areas for many years. Chaco, with help from regional outdoor retailers, will put close to $20,000 into direct action causes this year in the Southeast alone.

For every pair of custom Chacos sold, Rock Creek and Chaco will donate $20 toward the purchase of Boat Rock. The custom Chaco Sandals will be available for purchase through Rock Creek Outfitters’ website, RockCreek.com, and displayed at each venue of the Triple Crown Bouldering Series. The three-part series kicks off October 7 at Hound Ears in Boone, NC, moves on to Horse Pens-40 in Steele, AL, and concludes at The Stone Fort in Chattanooga, TN.

About Rock Creek Outfitters:

Rock/Creek Outfitters is a specialty outdoor retailer with over two decades of experience in the Southeast. Along with its online shops, RockCreek.com and ClimbingGear.com, Rock/Creek Outfitters provides quality outdoor clothing and gear for a host of activities including kayaking, rock climbing, camping, hiking, trail running, and adventure racing. Rock/Creek is committed to making a positive impact on the environment. For this reason, it uses outdoor retail as a platform to encourage outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship and to improve access to the backcountry.

About Chaco:

While many businesses focus solely on profits, Chaco seeks to follow the three steppingstones to sustainability: profits, people and the planet. They strive to minimize their environmental impact, better the lives of the people with whom they work and maintain healthy profitability so they can keep their initiatives moving forward. To further support their sustainability initiatives, Chaco donates three percent of after-tax profits to organizations dedicated to caring for people and the planet. They currently support the Conservation Alliance, the Sierra Club, American Whitewater, Leave No Trace, the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and many others.

Posted by Mark McKnight at 01:34 PM | TrackBack

June 14, 2006

RSS Feeds for this Site

We have officially rolled our RSS Feeds live, and I'd like to provide a little explanation here in case you're not familiar with RSS or Really Simple Syndication.

Step 1: Get an Aggregator

First, you need an RSS aggregator or Firefox browser; these will allow you to save several feeds in one place and every time a feed is updated, the new information appears on your newsreader or on the bookmarks list in Firefox.

If you don't have Firefox, you can get it now. It's free for download. It's a great Web browser and you can set up live bookmarks (RSS Feeds) to show in the sidebar with your other bookmarks.

For Mac OS X users, Vienna has been reccomended. It's an open source program available freely for download.

There are many more aggregators, and you can even use Google's personalized homepage to show feeds. You can add the entire Rock Creek Chronicle with this button:

Step 2: Get Some Stuff to Aggregate!

You can start with the Rock Creek Chronicle Feed. We have Atom XML feeds available in several categories, or you can subscribe to all new posts and you won't miss a beat:

All New Posts:

Sales & Promotions:

Announcements:

Environmental:

Events:

Monthly Contest:

If you have any questions, feel free to contact mark [at] rockcreek.com and I'll do my best to help you out. Enjoy!

Posted by Mark McKnight at 01:56 PM | TrackBack

May 31, 2006

Rock Creek Outfitters Leases Space at Two North Shore

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 28, 2006--CS & Associates, an affiliate of Park Mills Properties 2, LLC, announces that it has now acquired the balance of the land needed to build Two North Shore, a 95,000 square foot mixed use project on Manufacturers Road near US 27, anchored by a new Greenlife Grocery store in the North Shore region of Chattanooga. Park Mills' managing partner, Steve Arnsdorff, announced that Rock Creek Outfitters, locally owned by Dawson Wheeler and Marvin Webb since 1986, has signed a lease to occupy approximately 9,000 square feet right next to the planned new Greenlife Grocery store (27,000 sq. ft.). Steve said "Rock Creek is the perfect compliment to Greenlife Grocery. Greenlife is the benchmark in natural and organic foods in this region and their success has been amazing. Both companies are strong regional businesses that have great business models and they help anchor the retail market in the North Shore area of Chattanooga. We are very bullish regarding residential growth in the immediate area of this development and with the property's regional location near Highway 27, these new stores will better serve their existing and future customers".

Continue reading "Rock Creek Outfitters Leases Space at Two North Shore"

Posted by Meesh Smith at 09:45 AM | TrackBack

May 08, 2006

New Affiliate Program Launched

Do you have a Web site relating to the outdoors? Consider RockCreek.com as a merchant partner. You could earn generous commissions on traffic you send to our site.

RockCreek.com Affiliate Program Details:

- Work with a fun, growing specialty retailer committed to leadership in the outdoor industry.

- Earn commissions of 7-9% on sales you send to us. For expected sales of $10k or more a month, please contact Mark McKnight at mark@ rockcreek.com.

- 120 day cookie duration gives you plenty of time to collect on traffic you send.

- Monthly newsletters, dedicated management, and a blog keep you up to date on promotions and help you maximize earnings from your Web site, blog, or newsletter.

- If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mark McKnight at mark@ rockcreek.com.

- SIGN UP NOW with CommissionJunction.com!

Posted by Mark McKnight at 04:56 PM | TrackBack

April 05, 2006

Legendary Ski Mountaineer Doug Coombs Killed in LaGrave Accident

It saddens us here at Rock/Creek to report that the legendary ski mountaineer Doug Coombs has passed away in a tragic accident while skiing in La Grave. Doug visited us for a slideshow back in November and he was a pleasure to have around. He will be missed.

Doug is survived by his wife Emily and young son David, and the Doug Coombs Memorial Fund will help provide for them during this time of mourning and in their future.

Pistehors.com has more details.

(Photo c. Marmot/ Ace Kvale)

Posted by Mark McKnight at 04:18 PM | TrackBack

March 22, 2006

Exodus Recall

Ironically, the very day I post an article from Mountain Hardwear about the new Exodus pack frames, they announce a recall on the hip belts. Good news is only the hip belts are affected and they're sending us new ones to replace the packs we have in stores now.

Apparently there's a defect where the fabric comes together with foam on the pads and the fabric can separate from the pad while you're adjusting the velcro. This shouldn't affect the pack while it's in use, only when you're adjusting it, so if you're reading this from the trail (which I seriously doubt you are) then the pack should be fine as long as you don't adjust the hip belt.

If you've purchased an Exodus pack from RockCreek.com please contact us at 1.888.707.6708 and we'll get you a replacement hip belt as soon as we get them in from Mountain Hardwear.

Despite this little manufacturing hiccup, we're pretty excited about the Exodus system; Mountain Hardwear really thought out of the box on this and came up with a really innovative frame design.

Posted by Mark McKnight at 04:49 PM | TrackBack

Exodus Test Team to be Recruited

RICHMOND, Ca. (February 1, 2006) – Mountain Hardwear Inc., a leading mountaineering and outdoor equipment and clothing company, announced today that it has partnered with three continental north-south trail organizations to help promote some of the nation’s most cherished long-distance hiking trails. The partnership marks the launch of Mountain Hardwear’s new Exodus Pack line. Exodus Backpacks, which will be available in specialty outdoor stores February 1st, incorporate a revolutionary new frame system that moves with the user’s body, resulting in a comfortable fit, even when hiking on uneven terrain.

Mountain Hardwear has partnered with non-profit organizations affiliated with the most revered long-distance hiking trails: The Appalachian Trail (2,144 miles, from Maine to Georgia); The Continental Divide Trail (3,100 miles from Montana through Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico) and the Pacific Crest Trail (2,650 miles from Washington through Oregon and California). The agreements include providing funds for trail construction and maintenance to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Continental Divide Trail Alliance’s Explorers Program, and sponsoring the Pacific Crest Trail Alliance Trail Fest held March 31-April 2 in Riverside California, an event to increase awareness of the trail. In partnership with Mountain the Test Team program to their membership base.

Those chosen to be part of the Exodus Test Team will hike portions of the three trails during the spring or summer of 2006. Mountain Hardwear will provide each participant with an Exodus pack. In exchange, Test Team members will document their trips with stories and photos for posting on Mountain Hardwear’s website. Participants are also encouraged to conceive and execute a trail stewardship project associated with their trip.

“As an outdoor gear company, we care deeply about the preservation and responsible use of these great American trails. Our Exodus Pack launch has provided an excellent opportunity to promote these worthy organizations as well as put our packs on the backs of passionate users,” said Ryan Hodgkin, Mountain Hardwear’s marketing manager.

Mountain Hardwear designs, sources and markets high-end mountaineering and outdoor equipment, apparel and accessories. Mountain Hardwear was established in 1993 by a group of outdoor industry veterans and is based in Richmond, Calif. The company distributes its products through specialty outdoor and sporting goods retailers in the United States and 25 countries worldwide. Mountain Hardwear has won numerous product and customer service awards since its inception. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company. RockCreek.com carries a full selection of Mountain Hardwear products, including two new packs using the Exodus frame system.

Posted by Mark McKnight at 10:46 AM | TrackBack

March 10, 2006

Wall Street Journal Chooses RockCreek.com for Deuter's Kid Comfort II Backpack

The Wall Street Journal chose RockCreek.com to outfit themselves with a Deuter Kid Comfort II Backpack. They chose the Kid Comfort as "Best Overall" in a test of backpack-style kid carriers. So next time you head out on the trail, take Junior with you with the Deuter Kid Comfort packs.

The lighter Deuter Kid Comfort II ($179 at Rock Creek) won unanimous approval. "I didn't know I was wearing it," dad James Kolenski said of the nearly six-pound pack after the hike was over. The carrier also had a well-designed kickstand, vents to help stay cool and lots of storage room. And our younger testers? Baby Megan fell asleep within minutes, her head pressing gently into the padded backrest. As mom Suzanne Kolenski concluded, "She's obviously cozy in there." If only they made one big enough to hold adults, too. It's our Best Overall. {See full article on wsj.com]

Head over to RockCreek.com to shop for your Kid Comfort pack today.

Ever since Hans Deuter started making bags to supply the Bavarian Post Office in 1898, Deuter has focused on making the best possible packs. By 1971, Deuter had become the largest producer of backpacks, luggage, and bags in Germany. The first AirComfort bags debuted in 1987, with the AirContact series following in 1996, the Advanced Comfort System in 1999, and the AC Lite series in 2002. The first kid carrier pack hit the market in 2003 and has been perfected in the years that followed.

In a little over a year, Deuter moved up from an outsider status on our sales floor to become our best selling pack line. We believe that Deuter fills a unique niche in the backpack market, and we are proud to offer their line to you.

Click here to see the full Deuter selection at RockCreek.com

Posted by Mark McKnight at 03:59 PM | TrackBack

January 20, 2006

2006 Chaco Sandals in Stock!

We're psyched to announce that the new 2006 Chaco sandals arrived yesterday and are available for purchase right now. We still have more on the way, but a good number are available immediately.

Highlights of this year's line are the new ZX/1 and ZX/2 Performance Sandals, featuring two narrow straps rather than one wider strap, allowing the sandal to more accurately conform to the curvatures of your feet. The security of the toe loop, combined with the contoured Z-style footbed, provides unmatched performance and security making these sandals ideal for use in conditions that demand an extra measure of forefoot stability. Inspired by Chaco's classic basket weave, the ZX/1 and ZX/2 are attractive additions to their Performance line. Long the gold standard with river guides and outdoor professionals, Chaco's Performance line continues to transform first-time wearers into lifetime believers with durability, BioCentric" comfort and incomparable fit.

Chaco raises the bar again this year with the introduction of dramatically lighter polyurethane midsoles and two new performance outsoles. To create the new Uniweep sole, Chaco combined the most intelligent features from their previous Colorado and Terreno soles. With Vibram® durability, the Unaweep outsole is a great combination of slip resistance, traction and light weight. The lug pattern and spacing makes this sole virtually self-cleaning.

Be sure to read the Performance Sandal adjustment guide in order to properly fit your new sandals.

Click here to shop our Chaco store now.

Chaco sandals are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Posted by Mark McKnight at 10:17 AM | TrackBack

January 17, 2006

New Gregory Packs Added

We recently added some new 2006 Gregory Packs to the site. Among the newcomers are:

The Baltoro: Designed for the backcountry adventurer seeking multiple pockets and zip-thru access points, the Gregory Baltoro, part of Gregory's Escape Series, satiates with 4300 cubic inches of highly organized backpack.

The exclusive response-suspension technology of the Baltoro automatically delivers a custom fit and compression stiffening panels stabilize the load. Buy Now.

The Deva 60 is Gregory's bestselling pack: redesigned and face-lifted for 2006. Updates include new response suspension, increased capacity, front pocket and redesigned side pockets. Features Gregory's precurved, women's-specific 3D harness.

This new dual density precurved harness and waistbelt is designed to “wrap” around your body's contours without wrinkling, eliminating abrasions and blisters. Hypalon weight transfer panels help distribute weight across the entire padding surface. Buy Now.

The Palisade: Past recipient of Outside magazine’s Best Value Rating, the Palisade Backpack by Gregory is a classic long trail pack that offers incredible capacity and load-carrying comfort at an amazing price.

The Palisade is a part of Gregory's Adventure Series, ideal for trips 5 days or longer. This year Gregory has complimented the top- and bottom entry points with a zip-through front pocket that provides additional access to the main pack body. Buy Now.

We also have a few other new packs and a couple messenger bags in our Gregory Store.

Posted by Mark McKnight at 04:35 PM | TrackBack

December 05, 2005

RockCreek Joins Castle Rock Initiative

RockCreek.com's parent company, Rock/Creek Outfitters, has just joined the initiative to lease Castle Rock in order to make it open to climbers. As the Southeastern Climbers' Coalition's Web site explains, "Castle Rock is located approximately 3 miles northwest of downtown Jasper, Tennessee. You catch a glimpse of this proud buttress as you drive up the hill towards Foster Falls (look to your right above Castle Rock church). Castle Rock is located on private land and has technically been closed to the climbing public. In the fall of 2004, The Southeastern Climbers Coalition began negotiations with the landowners to open access to this area. A verbal committment has been reached and a lease should be signed during the month of October 2005."

"Castle Rock is approximately 1/2 mile long of 80 to 120 ft. tall bullet sandstone. Castle Rock is known for many 5.11 and 5.12 sport climbs and one of the hardest routes in the state of Tennessee - Apes on Acid (5.13d). Castle Rock is listed as a 4 star (out of 5) crag in Tim Toula's "Rock and Road" guidebook."

If you'd like to contribute or read more about Castle Rock, check out the SEC page here.

Visit RockCreek.com today.

Posted by Mark McKnight at 03:21 PM | TrackBack

November 15, 2005

Introducing Crumpler, Messenger Bags with Attitude

Crumpler bags bring a new attitude to RockCreek.com. Designed by Stu Crumpler in Australia, made of DuPont Cordura, and sent out with quite a bit of silly fanfare, Crumpler bags will get you and your stuff wherever you need to go.

All Crumpler bags are waterproof, highly abrasion resistant, full of padding, and fun to carry around. They'll last forever and make you look cooler than you really are.

Shop our selection of Crumpler bags now at RockCreek.com's Crumpler Store.

In fact, be sure to check out their English Web site as well. It's, um, well, just go see: Crumpler Home Page.

Posted by Mark McKnight at 03:05 PM | TrackBack

November 10, 2005

Get What You Want with Wish Lists

Tired of socks? Get the gifts you want this year by using Rock Creek's Wish List. Simply look for the "Add to Wish List" graphic to the right of the product photograph on each paage. If you have not already set up a wish list, you will be prompted to do so. When you find all the things you want on your list, you may e-mail it to all your buddies and family members. Then, get what you want this holiday season!

Click here to enlarge photo.

We had a fun time shooting these photos yesterday. Travis from our downtown Chattanooga, TN store was a great sport and the perfect model for the shoot. Thanks Travis! By the way, that's peanut brittle with the socks, which isn't that bad a gift actually. But the climbing gear will last longer.

Posted by Mark McKnight at 03:01 PM | TrackBack

June 13, 2005

RockCreek.com's New Blog!

Welcome to RockCreek.com's New Blog! This is where the men and women behind the curtain come out and reveal the inner machinations of the Web's raddest specialty outdoor retail store. Yeah, we know it's a little cheesy, but this should be fun.

Stay tuned for updates, and don't forget to visit www.rockcreek.com

Posted by Mark McKnight at 10:52 AM | TrackBack